Psalm
60 reminds me of going to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York
City as a young kid. This is one of the biggest parades in the world
and my memory is of group after group marching in crisp uniform.
Some had marching bands, some had dancing, some simply marched with
military synchronization, but all had one thing in common, each group
followed a banner proudly announcing the name of their organization.
The only exceptions were the clowns and jugglers that seemed to be
randomly marching along entertaining themselves. This psalm is
speaking about the nation of Israel, but it mirrors the life of many
individuals. Many of us marched to the beat of a different drummer.
Some of us made wrong turns along the way. This psalm of David
seems to summarize the perspective of the non-believer in a few short
verses, “You
have rejected us, O God… You have been angry-now restore us! You
have shaken the land… for it is quaking. You have shown Your
people desperate times…
given
us wine that makes us stagger.”
I believe there are many people today that are standing on shaky
ground and looking for someone to blame. Like the clowns in the
parade, we can find ourselves alone with a painted-on smile. If this
sounds familiar, David offers an alternative. “But
for those who fear You, You have raised a banner to be unfurled“.
This is an invitation to become part of a family, unified by
submission to God. The parade will come to an end one day, where
will you be then?
Some
say, “I don’t fear God”. I don’t fear gravity either, unless
I am high off the ground. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom“.
Frankly, anyone that does not fear the Lord does not understand His
nature. There is no middle ground. Jesus told His followers, “He
who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me,
scatters“.
David continues, “Save
us and help us with Your right hand, that those You love may be
delivered“.
I hear people ask, “What if God does not love me?” Joel 2:32
gives us God’s promise, “And
everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved“.
Understand that the invitation has been extended to you, but God
gives us free-will. Will you march under His banner? You have a
choice.
For
the rest of the psalm, David shouts to us, “God
has spoken from His sanctuary“.
His promises are certain and they have been made to you. “Give
us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God
we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies“.
Psalm 61 is a short prayer of someone that is weary of fighting
against God. There are times in life when we just need to hold on.
“Hear
my cry, O God; listen to my prayer… I
call
as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I…
For You have been my refuge“.
We have a sense that David has tried doing things his own way and
has learned a lesson, “I
long to dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of
Your wings“.
As always, David trusts in God’s faithfulness, “For
You have heard my vows, O God“.
David ends with his personal prayer to be “enthroned
in God’s presence forever“.
He adds, “Appoint
Your love and faithfulness to protect“.
And please note the result of God’s renewal, “Then
will I ever sing praise to Your Name and fulfill my vows day after
day“.
Friend,
please understand that there is plenty of room under God’s banner,
don’t march alone. Don’t just be a spectator, join the parade!